Thai PM urges ASEAN, SKorea to expand cooperation on technologies

BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA, December 12 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha has called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and South Korea to expand cooperation on technological exchange, human resource development and innovative and technological investment. The Thai premier's call was part of his speech, entitled "Review of ASEAN-ROK Relations and Its Future Direction", delivered on Friday morning (local time) at the ASEAN-Republic of Korea (ROK) Commemorative Summit 2014, held in the South Korean Busan City from December 10-12, marking the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-South Korea relations. The Thai prime minister praised South Korea for having utilised, outstandingly, modern technologies and innovations in driving national development, urging ASEAN and South Korea to, thus, promote exchange of technological know-how and cooperate more on research, human resource development and investment in technologies, especially in ASEAN. The Thai prime minister said Thailand hopes that South Korea will support ASEAN to develop digital economy to help enhance ASEAN's competitiveness, reduce digital gap, help develop education and boost potential of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and on innovative economy in the region. Hailing positive development that ASEAN, in which Thailand is a member country, is now the second largest trading partner and the third largest overseas investment base of South Korea, the Thai prime minister pointed out it reflects the ASEAN economy is now more connected with South Korea. The Thai leader stressed he believes, however, that there are more rooms for both ASEAN and South Korea to expand their trade and investment by utilising advantages from the single market and production base of ASEAN in the form of the ASEAN Community (AC), set to be established by the end of 2015, to boost two-way trade to reach 150 billion US dollars by 2015 and 200 billion US dollars by 2020, as targeted. The Thai prime minister also proposed that every country cooperate to prevent any conflict, respect international rules and laws and build trust in order to promote peace and security in the region. According to the Thai prime minister, Thailand also supports the vision of South Korean President Park Geun-hye in building cooperation and peace in the Southeast Asian region to pave the way for building trust among countries in the region. (TNA)